THE Club would like to welcome successful businessman Jim Lawson to the North Sydney Football Club Board of Directors.Bears General Manager Greg Florimo was delighted with the appointment, "I'm very happy to have Jim on board. His business knowledge and his passion for the Bears will be a tremendous asset to the Club".Already Jim has speed up preparations for the new range of North Sydney on-line merchandise which will be available in November 2005.For more news go to the Bears official website at www.northsydneybears.com.au

HOPES to have the World Club Challenge (WCC) be held in Australia next year were dashed this week, with the NRL confirming the game will be held in the UK. While a push to play the fixture on Australian shores had gained momentum earlier in the season, NRL officials have preferred to stick to the tried and true formula of playing the clash in the cooler climate of Britain.

TOP Australian whistler Tim Mander - who officiated at the recent NRL Grand Final between Wests Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys - is set take charge of the deciding European Nations Cup Group A game in Dublin on Saturday afternoon.

RUBEN Wiki, who will become the most capped player in world rugby league when he leads New Zealand out against Great Britain at Loftus Road on Saturday, has revealed the secret of his record-breaking success - the ?magic potion? he consumes after every match.